Humidifying apparatus



A. C. ANDERSON HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS May A, w34.

nishings.

Patented May 8, 1934 HUMDIFYING APPARATUS Albert C. Anderson, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 25, 1932, Serial No. 588,569

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to humidifying apparatus, and in its` preferred embodiment has particular reference to household humidiers of the general type comprising an evaporating pan :I or container which is usually mounted above or behind the radiator.

The ordinary household humidifier of the type requiring manual refilling of the evaporator pan seldom operates with any maintained efficiency because frequently the pan is dry during a considerable part of the time, owing to the bother and inconvenience of relling the pan and the frequency at which this refilling operation must be performed.

The general object of the invention is to avoid such objections by providing improved apparatus which will automatically supply water directly from the radiator to the evaporating pan.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved water supply apparatus which is capable of automatically drawing supply water directly from a steam radiator without the complications and diniculties involved in attempting to condense the radiator steam in any part of the humidifier attachment apparatus. This assures reliability of operation and prevents the possibility of live steam being projected from the humidifier, and also renders the same type of humidifying apparatus equally adaptable either to steam radiators or to hot water radiators.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve controlling arrangement for regulating the automatic supply of water from the radiator to the evaporating pan. One of the principal features of this improved valve controlling arrangement is dependability of operation. Dependability of operation is absolutely essenin these radiator humidifying attachments For example, if live steam should issue in large volumes because of the failure of some condensif ing function in the attachment, or if the level responsive valve associated with the evaporating pan should fail to function and the pan should overflow, considerable loss may result in damage to rugs, furniture, draperies and other room furn the preferred embodiment of my impr -ved valve controlling arrangement I secure this desired dependability of operation by dispensing with the conventional float controlled valve and all of its attendant objections, such as "iii a relatively small operating force, the likelihood of the water in the evaporating pan. The

.35 evaporating pan is arranged for movement so that the pan moves in one direction when the Weight of the water contained therein exceeds a certain value and moves in the other direction when the weight of the water diminishes below a certain value. This weight actuated motion of the pan is employed to control the supply valve and the greatly increased operating force available in this method of valve control prevents the possibility of any of the parts sticking in their operations, with the possible consequence of the pan overflowing or receiving no water.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement wherein, if desired, a counterflow of water may be made to occur at diierent times from the evaporating pan through the inlet valve and down through the supply tube back into the radiator. This counterflow of Water may be advantageously utilized to clean the parts of the supply valve and to clean a straining screen at the inlet end of the supply tube, such counterfiow being limited, however, so as not to deplete the supply of water in the evaporating pan.

Another object is to provide a construction and combination or" parts which can be readily adapted to practically any conventional radiator cover and evaporating pan which may be already installed, the present attachment parts providing for various adjustments to adapt the apparatus to different conditions of installation.

Another object is to provide an improved automatic humidifying apparatus which is of low manufacturing cost and which can be easily and quickly installed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof. In the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiment:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a typical radiator, illustrating, partly in section, the various parts of my improved apparatus and a typical radiator cover and evaporating pan;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and illustrating some of the attachment parts for mounting the upper end of the water supply tube, the adjustable spring, etc.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. l, illustrating one form of adjustable fulcrum support for the evaporating pan;

Fig. a is a vertical sectional View, on a larger scale, through the discharge end of the supply tube and illustrating generally the preferred form of valve which I employ;

5 is a vertical sectional View through the inlet end or the supply tube, illustrating a preferred forin of straining screen and manner of attaching the saine to the end of the supply tube;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating one manner of establishing the water supply connection through the side wall of one oi the radiator coils;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view illustrating another forni of adjustable fulcrurn support for the tiltable evapora-ting pan.

Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional radiator is indicated at 16, built up the usual manner of a. number of separate radiator coils 16d. The steam or hot water supply pipe is indicated at 17, being controlled by a valve 18, which has any suitable coupled connection 19 with a supply opening 21 in one of the end coils. In a steam heating radiator, as is illustrated, the lower ends of the individual coils 16a constitute cup-shaped receptacles 16h in which the water of condensation accumulates. The level at which the return flow of water occurs, either through the steam supply pipe 17 or through a separate water return pipe, is such that the level extends from end to end of the radiator through the connecting openings between adjacent coils. It is from this substantially ineahaustible reservoir oi water, which is continuously being replenished by condensed steam, that I draw my water supply for the evapcrating pan, thereby avoiding the necessity of having any of the humidifying attachment apparatus perform the condensing function. The supply tube leading to the evaporator pan is indicated generally at 24, the intake end thereof extending down into the cup-shaped receptacle 15b of one of the end coils.

Any conventional or preferred form of radiator cover is indicated at 26, the latter having the usual side and end walls fitting down over the upper portions of the radiator coils and having a hinged lid 27 provided with an openwork grill 28 therein. Said cover may be supported on and secured to the radiator in any suitable manner, such as by the transverse tie rods 29 which rest on the spacing lugs 16e contacting between the upper portions of the radiator coils.

The evaporating pan is indicated at 31, and may be the regular pan supplied with the conventional radiator cover 26, or may be a specially designed pan. For the installation of my iniproved humidiying apparatus, this pan is given a pivoted mounting on a fulcrum 32 whereby, in collaboration with spring means or weighting means, the pan is caused to tilt in one direction with a decreasing or minimum supply of water therein and is caused to tilt in the other direction with an increasing or maximum supply of water therein. In the preferred arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, the fulcrum 32 is disposed adjacent to one end oi the pan and a spring 33 is connected with the pan tending to tilt the opposite end thereof upwardly, whereby with an increasing supply of water the latter end of the pan will tend to tilt downwardly. The supply pipe 24 comprises an upper portion 24a supported by an attachment bracket 35 and extending over the top or" the pan. The end of this pipe portion 24a terminates in a supply valve 36 which projects down into the end of the pan. Said valve comprises a downwardly projecting spring pressed stem 36a which, when pressed upwardly by the pan, opens its valve closure element 3673, and which, when allowed to move downwardly under the action of the valve spring 36e, closes the closure element 36h. For simplicity and cheapness o construction I prefer to use a Schraeder tire valve for this inlet valve, a1- though any other desired construction of valve may be employed. rlhe valve body may be mounted in a casing 37 secured to the end of the tube portion 24rd by a coupling nut 38 bearing' against a beaded or shouldered end 39 of the tube, or the valve body may be mounted directly in the end of the tube 24d by appropriately crimping and shaping the end of the tube. rihe valve discharges into a well 41, which overflows -to the pan 31, this well limiting the volinne or" water which will be drawn ba l: through the valve and down through the pipe 2e into the radiator in the counterflow before mentioned, such counteriiow occurring when the steam pre le goes ori at night or when the steam is shut oi'f at the valve 18 and a partial vacuum thereupon develops in the radiator. The discharge end of the valve 36 is below the overflow level of the well Lil so that a considerable part of the contents of the well can be sucked back through the supply tube when the partial vacuum develops in the radiator. This results in a counteriow of appreciable volume occuri regular intervals, without c of water in the evaporating such ccunteiriow cleaning the valve parts,

e tubing and the straining screen (to be later dmfribed) at lower end of the tubing. The partial vacuum created in the radiator is ample to open the valve 36 against its spring 36e. On the other hand, when the steam pressure prevails in the radiator such pressure is ample to force the water of condensation up through the tubing into the evaporating Also, in the case of a hot water heating system, the water pressure is ample to secure proper supply to the cvaporating pan.

Referring to Fig. 2, the mounting bracket 35 preferably comprises two transverse clamping bars 42 which are disposed on the outer and inner sides of the end coil of the radiator and which are rigidly held in clamped engagement therewith by a transverse bolt i3 extending through the space between the spaced columns of the radiator coil. A slotted link 44 is rigidly clamped under the head or nut of the bolt 43, the slot in said link permitting the latter to be shifted upwardly or dovmwardly to change the eiective length of the mounting bracket. Another slotted link Li5 may be adjustably secured to the upper portion of the lower link ifi by bolts 46 which pass through cornpanion slots in the two links, whereby the upper link 45 can also be shifted upwardly or downwardly along the length of the link lie. The upper end of link ll5 is bent laterally at 45a to receive screw-s 47 which secure a clamping strap 48 to said laterally bent portion 45a. Said strap embraces the tube portion 24d and secures the latter to the bracket 35, thereby fixedly holding the valve 3G at a predetermined height relatively to the bottom ci the evaporating pan, which height can be adjusted by appropri l1, adjustinents of the links 44 and 45. The bracket portion 45a is apertured to receive an adjusting screw 51 to which the tension spring 33 is connected.

The lower end of said spring is connected to a *esegesi tached thereto. The tension of the springr 33 can be adjusted for evaporating pans of diierent weights and for predetermining the normal water level in the pan either by adjusting the height of the screw 51 in the bracket or by adjusting the height of the clip 52 on the pan. The end of the tube portion 24a screws into a shut-off valve 55, which is readily accessible upon raising the lid 27, for shutting off the supply of water whenever desired. The tube section 24a is preferably rotatable in the mounting clipr48 and in its threaded attachment in the valve 55,'whereby the downwardly bent end carrying the Control valve 36 can be revolved upwardly for substituting or inspecting the valve body, without necessitating the disengagement of any of the parts. All of the parts supported by the bracket 35 are of short vertical dimension so that this assembly can be mounted in practically all radiator covers, even where the space between the top of the radiator and the top of the cover is comparatively small.

Secured over the inlet end of the supply tube 24 is a straining screen 58, preferably of relatively fine mesh for preventing particles of rust and other foreign matter from being carried up through the tube 24. This screen is preferably fastened to an attachment tting 59 which is secured to the end of the tube by a. coupling nut 61 bearing against a shouldered or beaded end 62 on the tube. The tting has spaced vertical slots in its lower end over which the screen snugly engages. The screen can be fastened over the tting 59 by a wire 63 lwhich crimps the end of the screen into an annular groove in the tting. Where it is desirable to 'make this screened end of the tube of the smallest possible 'diameter for passing through a srnall hole in the radiator, the slots 60 can be formed directly in the end of the tube and the screen wired directly over the tube and slots.

rThe tube 24 may be arranged to enter one of the coils of the radiator through a suitable fitting screwed into a tapped hole in the bottom cup 1619, with the straining screen 58 .projecting into the cup receptacle, although in the preferred method of installation ina steam radiator the tube enters one of the end coils at approxiinately the point where it is customary to mount one of the conventional air valves 65. It is quite customary to provide tapped or plugged holes or bosses Yat each end of the radiator to establish a connection for one of these air valves 65, and such connection can be readily opened or drilled for receiving the tube 24, thereby simplifying 'the insertion of the tube and also disposing the entrance opening for the tube above the water level where there will be less likelihood of leakage. Fig. 6 illustrates a coupling nipple or plug 66 screwing into one of these air valve connections and having the tube 24`pass`ing therethrough. VIn some instances the hole 67'for receiving this l'nipple plug 'may be made Vsuiiici'ently large to 'pass the straining screen 58 therethrough; or the supply coupling 19 at the valve 18 may be disconnected and access gained through the opening 21 Afor securing the straining screen to the end of the tube after the tube has been passed through the nipple plug 66. 'The tube -24 may consist of a single length of tubing extending from the shutoit valve 55 down to the straining screen 58, or it may consist of two sections, one section extending down tothe coupling 66 and the other section 24o 'extending from this coupling down to the straining screen. In the latter construction I contemplate employing a length of flexible tubing as the lower section 24D, preferably consisting of spirally wound metallic tubing, the iiexib'ility of which readily enables it to be threaded through the opening 67 and down into the lower part of the radiator coil. When using this separate lower section, 4a bead or shoulder 69 on the upper end thereof is clamped against the outer end of the nipple plug 66 by an elbow Vfitting 71, and the upper section of tubing is in turn connected to` this velbow fitting by coupling 72. Where only a single length of tubing is employed extending fromY the valve 55 to the screen 58 it also has a bead 69 formed thereon and such bead is clamped against the vend of the tting 66 by a VAsuitable 'coupling 'nut such as they nut 72. It 'will be seen from `the foregoing that -I have provided a simple method and arrangement of parts for 'establishing the water supply connection with the interior of a steam radiator, which enables the installation of the apparatusgt'o be quickly 'and easily made. In the case of a hot water radiator the connection can be made at any desired poin'tbelow the water level in the radiator.

The shiftable fulcrum 32 consists of a cross bar on which the pan 31 rests, and the ends of which cross bar are adjustably secured to brackets resting on lthe upper portions of the radiator coils. As shown in Fig. 1, each bracket 75 has its ends curved inwardly to rest on the adjacent coils, and to provide lower attachment portions to which U-shaped straps 76 are secured by screws 77. These straps extend under 'the spacing lugs 16o projecting from the coils and securely fasten the brackets 75 in place. It will be apparent that a major adjustment of the location of the fulcrum 32 can be eiiecte'd by mounting the brackets 75on different coils of the 'radiator. The ends of the -fulcrurn bar 32 pass downwardly through holes 78 in the brackets 75 and each bracket is provided with a Vseries of these holes along its length, whereby the 'fulcr'urn b'ar 32 can be shifted along 'the same for securing a closer adjustment of the position of 'the fulcru'm.

Fig. 7 'illustrates a 'modified construction of adjustable fulcru'm. In this form, thes'ide walls of the radiator cover 26 have U-shaped straps or ba1's'81 secured thereto, the upper edges of which 'are provided with a series of spaced notches 82. The fulcrum bar 32a. can be disposed in any of these pairs of 'opposite notches, and -may be 'rigidly held therein by nuts 83.

Fig. 1 illustrates a device for giving a biasing or accentuating actionto the tilting motion o'f the evaporating pan. In one preferred form, this de- Vice comprises a tube 86 which is secured to the pan to tilt therewith. Rolling freely'in this tube is a relatively `heavy ball 87, composed of iron or lead, which is adapted to roll from end to end of the tube 86 in the tilting motion of the pan. The disposal of said tube 86, and the timed relation between the tilting of the pan andthe opening or closing of the automatic supply valve 36, are preferably such that just at the instant that the tilting motion is about to open the valve the ball rolls to one end of the tube and accelerates such motion, and just at Athe instant that the tilting of the pan is about to close the valve the ball rolls to the other end of the tube and likewise accelerates this motion. Thus, the apparatus may be made to `function so that the valve is either completely open 'or completely closed.

As shown in Fig. 3, the tube 86 can be adjustably supported along the side-edge of the evaporatloo 'los

izo

ing pan by hanger clips 88 projecting from the tube at spaced points and clamped over the pan by set screws 89. This enables the tube 86 to be shifted lengthwise of the pan or to have either end of the tube adjusted higher or lower relatively to the pan.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the present apparatus can be readily installed in the form of an attachment, associated with a conventional radiator cover and its evaporating pan; or the entire assembly including the radiator cover and pan can be embodied in a unitary, special humidifying device. Since it is the change in the weight of water in the evaporating pan which produces the motion that performs the valve controlling function it is evident that a sufliciently large operating force is always available to insure positive, reliable valve operation. This same principle, utilizing an evaporating receptacle which is raised or lowered or otherwise moved with a changing weight of water therein, can also be embodied in connection with humidifying receptacles disposed in back of the radiator.

The arrangement of the water supply illustrated in Fig. l may be summarized as having three principal advantages: (l) the drawing of the water supply from below the return level in the radiator results in the condensing function of the radiator being utilized; (2) the entrance of the water supply tube 24 into the radiator at a point above said return level, as at the opening 67, prevents the possibility of water leakage occurring at said point of entrance; (3) the fact that the screen 58 and supply openings 60 face downwardly, and water supply occurs upwardly through said screen and openings, enables rust and other foreign particles to drop off the outside of the screen by gravity, and particularly when the counterflow occurs. If desired, suitable apparatus may be interposed in the supply pipe 24 between the radiator and the evaporating pan for performing a condensing function, but such is not necessary in the embodiment of apparatus which I have illustrated. In fact, the pipe 24 is of such extremely small bore that its ratio of outside surface area to its diameter of bore enables this tube to function as a condenser if need be.

While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that such is merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. For example, the spring 33 might be a compression spring acting upwardly on the left hand end of the pan, or a tension or compression spring might be connected to act in the appropriate direction on the right hand end of the pan; or weighting means might be utilized as the tilting means, for example a weight might be mounted on the right hand end of the pan, and may be slidably mounted on the pan for adjustment.

I claim:

l. In humidifying apparatus, the combination of a steam radiator adapted to receive steam from a boiler, an evaporating receptacle mounted on said radiator, fulcrum means tiltably supporting said receptacle whereby the latter tilts in one direction in response to the weight of water therein, means for tilting said receptacle in the opposite direction when the water therein diminishes, said radiator comprising a lower portion wherein water of condensation accumulates up to a return level beyond which the water returns to the boiler, a pipe having its inlet end communicating with said lower portion of the radiator below said return level and having its outlet end discharging into said receptacle, means controlled by the tilting of said receptacle for controlling the ow of water through said pipe, and a well in said receptacle into which the outlet end of said pipe discharges, said well limiting the volume of any counterow of water back through said pipe.

2. In a humidier for radiators, the combination with a radiator, of an evaporating receptacle associated with the radiator, a pipe connected with the radiator to receive water therefrom and arranged to discharge into said receptacle, said pipe having its outlet end discharging into said receptacle below the normal liquid level therein, and a control valve for controlling ilow through said pipe, said valve being capable of opening in response to suction existing in said pipe whereby to provide for a counterow of water from said receptacle to said radiator.

3. In a humidifier for radiators, the combination with a radiator, of an evaporating receptacle, a pipe connected with the radiator to receive water therefrom and arranged to discharge into said receptacle, and apparatus responsive to the quantity of water in said receptacle for controlling the supply of water thereto through said pipe, said apparatus comprising means providing for a limited counterfiow of water from said receptacle back through said pipe to the radiator when a sub-atmospheric pressure develops in said radiator.

4. In a humidier for a steam radiator, the combination with a steam radiator of an evaporating receptacle carried by the radiator, a pipe for n supplying water from the radiator to said receptacle, means responsive to the quantity of water in said receptacle for controlling the supply of water through said pipe, said pipe comprising a portion entering one of the coils of the radiator at a point above the level of the water of condensation within the radiator and comprising a depending portion hanging down within the radiator coil to dispose its intake end below Said water level, and a screen over said intake end of the latter portion of said pipe.

5. In a humidier of the class described, the combination with a steam radiator receiving steam from a boiler and comprising a lower portion wherein water of condensation accumulates up to a return level beyond which the water returns to the boiler, of a humidifying receptacle adapted to move to different positions under the inuence of different volumes of water therein, a water supply pipe comprising a portion entering one of the coils of the radiator at a point above said return level and comprising a depending portion hanging down within the radiator coil to dispose its intake and below said return level, a straining screen associated with said intake end, said pipe having its outlet end discharging into said receptacle, valve means responsive to the movement of said receptacle for controlling the ow of water through said pipe, said valve means being capable of automatic opening in response to a sub-atmos- .fl

Crum means supporting said pan for tilting movement, means for causing said pan to tilt in one direction when the quantity of water therein diminishes and for causing said pan to tilt in the opposite direction when the quantity of water therein increases, a well of limited water holding capacity in said pan having overow discharge into said pan, a pipe connected with the radiator and arranged to supply water to said pan, and a valve responsive to the tilting of said pan for controlling the flow through said pipe, said pipe having its outlet end discharging into said well below the normal water level therein, and said valve being capable of opening in response to suction existing in said pipe, whereby sub-atmospheric pressure in said radiator is operative to create a counterow of water from said pan back to said radiator, but limited in volume by said well.

7. In a humidier of the class described, the combination with a radiator, of a radiator cover mounted on the radiator, an open top evaporating pan disposed within said cover above said radiator, pivot means for tiltably supporting said pan, a pipe for conveying water from said radiator to said pan, a bracket secured to said radiator, means attaching the upper portion of said pipe to said bracket, a spring closed valve at the discharge end of said pipe and discharging into said pan, means for opening said valve when the adjacent end of said pan tilts upwardly, and a spring operatively connected between said bracket and said pan tending to tilt the latter end of said pan upwardly.

ALBERT C. ANDERSON. 

